Okay right off the bat I know this is kind of an odd question but bare with me.

I'm planning a trip to Myanmar during Chinese National Week. There are no ATMs in the country so in preparation of this, I took $2,000 USD in new bills of various denominations back with me from the states last time I was there. A tour operator I am in communication with is telling me ideally, I should just bring crisp new $100 bills. I will not be in the states between now and National week. Unless I exchange money more money, I'm stuck with the notes I have now.

Is there anywhere in Shanghai that might be able to give me crisp new $100 USD bills? I know I can just take Chinese RMB and exchange it for USD. I'd rather exchange the USD I have for different USD notes. Would any banks consider such a request, changing $2,000 in twenties for twenty hundred dollar bills? Or will they all flat out tell me no?

Citibank always has USD, but you may need an account. If you have continued difficulty, you ned to open account.

Also, make sure the USD $100 are not only crisp for Burma, but must not have any blemish, ink marks or slightest tear, even bad creases.

In regards to Burma, are you not going thru BKK to get to Burma, as the border is closed between China and Burma south of Kumning to Lashio, at least for foreigners. Although there may be flights from Kumning. If going thru BKK, you can get USD there a tad easier at banks.

Double check with Lonely Planet Thorntree forum for up to date info, and also Visa issues as various Asian Myanmar Embassies for some passport holders (American). May not be a issue anymore, all depends on elections and astrology as you know....

Ahh, sorry you may be right.

Used to do this sort of thing often.

Any major bank in China has $100 USD bills but not always $2000 worth. Yes they do have clean bills and I have had to go back several times to do the exchange because they did not have enough new bills. The tellers dont really care if you inspect the bills before taking them and you can always ask for a different bill if one is too old.
I used to use a "back door" exchange guy in Shenzhen that worked out of a hardware store and he had close to half mil in USD on hand. These guys are everywhere but unless you know them like I did its SUPER scary. But on the same hand if you trust a local they may be able to help. These guys always have clean unmarked bills available (for obvious reasons) and the exchange rate is usually better.

And yes people in some countries and in some situations have a fit if there is even a wrinkle in a USD bill.

Good luck.

I already have my visa for Myanmar and I am flying to Yangon via Bangkok.

I would rather not wait until Bangkok to settle it. I know I can easily get more USD at ATMs in Bangkok but I want to find a way to exchange the USD notes I have now for the USD notes that would be easiest to exchange once I reach Burma.

Really, I could of sworn you could. I haven't been to Thailand since 2006 though. Or maybe it's Vietnam I'm thinking of where I got USD out of an ATM. I don't know.

Either way, I asked the finance manager here at my company (A Chinese National) and she called the bank who told her that they will make the exchange for me. They just need a couple of days to order the bills. So I'll go with her to the bank next week to make the exchange.

Just wanted to say that here in case someone else stumbles across this with the same question. Thanks everyone for the suggestions.

Yes to the best my knowledge, Thai Bank ATM's dont dispense USD, I get confused which bank used for last trip to Burma, in Sukhumvit near the Starbucks at the Novatel.

I actually have some Kyat on me here in Shanghai, as I plan to go there in the next 6 months, maybe over Xmas. How much was your flight from PVG to BKK, and I take it Air Asia to YGN?

^ Seconded,

Have had a house in Thailand for 12 years.
- Thai ATM's....Thai baht only.
- The AmEx machines have disappeared
- Whether at a bank or grey guy, only un-marked US bills will be exchanged. If a bill has so much as a pencil mark on it, or more likely a bank stamp.....no good

No excuses-

The USD is the defacto currency in many countries, its has to be eventually sent to Singapore for SE Asia, where the central bank only accepts perfect bills. The USD is also the defacto currency for most the major narcotic operations too, so they dont want to get screwed when laundering it. Perfect USD bills are defacto currency in many countries in Latin America and Africa even, so its all about the ability, and use, for the bills to be deposited at a NON US major bank.

At least thats what I have been told over the years in Burma, Thailand, Costa Rica, Guatemala and Morocco. Maybe a Consulate officer or a DEA or bank official can offer more variables/reasons.

overh20 wrote:

p1atl10 wrote:^ Seconded,

Have had a house in Thailand for 12 years.
- Thai ATM's....Thai baht only.
- The AmEx machines have disappeared
- Whether at a bank or grey guy, only un-marked US bills will be exchanged. If a bill has so much as a pencil mark on it, or more likely a bank stamp.....no good

You know, that always does piss me off when they won't accept bills because of chickensh1t excuses. WTF do they even do that?

Blame the low quality knockoff Chinese copies of N.Korean fakes.

solohobo wrote:Citibank always has USD, but you may need an account. If you have continued difficulty, you ned to open account.

Also, make sure the USD $100 are not only crisp for Burma, but must not have any blemish, ink marks or slightest tear, even bad creases.

In regards to Burma, are you not going thru BKK to get to Burma, as the border is closed between China and Burma south of Kumning to Lashio, at least for foreigners. Although there may be flights from Kumning. If going thru BKK, you can get USD there a tad easier at banks.

Double check with Lonely Planet Thorntree forum for up to date info, and also Visa issues as various Asian Myanmar Embassies for some passport holders (American). May not be a issue anymore, all depends on elections and astrology as you know....

what happens if the USD $100 has small ink marks??? I got 3 which has tiny ink marks,probably 2 cm in size..